Interview with Debora Kayembe - The Refugee Series

Rebel Justice - changing the way you see justice

In the first episode of our series exploring the challenges facing refugees, our host Alex speaks with Debora Kayembe - human rights lawyer, political activist, and the first black woman to ever become Rector of the University of Edinburgh. Debora was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she started her life of activism fighting for human rights with Toges Noires, then qualifying as a barrister. As a human rights lawyer investigating the abuses that occurred during the Second Congo War, Debora's involvement uncovering the atrocities that were committed placed her in great danger, forcing her to leave her home country and try to find refuge in the UK. Debora tells us about the enormous challenges she met on arrival, including one night being left to sleep on the streets while seven months pregnant, without any support from local services. Her case eventually gained national recognition, with even the then Home Secretary Jack Straw coming to support her right to remain. Since then, she has had a prolific career fighting against racism and other societal barriers that lead to the human rights abuses refugees face today. Debora joins Rebel Justice to tell us her incredible story.

If you'd like to support Debora, you can find more about her Freedom Walk campaign here:

https://www.facebook.com/FullOptions.TheFreedomWalk/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0

You can also follow her on social media, here:

Twitter: @DKAYEMBE

Debora's Blog: https://t.co/ectyDtrCBb

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